Cooking oven and method

ABSTRACT

A cooking oven and method of cooking vertically arrayed food carrying skewers movably attached and carried in a horizontal endless travel path by conveyor means to encircle a heating element array within a single open cooking oven chamber so as to constantly directly and indirectly expose the food to the heat radiated from the element array throughout the complete travel path within the oven chamber. A plurality of internested drip pans are disposed within the oven chamber vertically beneath the food travel path for collecting juice drippage. The oven chamber superposed beneath a conveyor chamber contains an alternating array of infrared gas burners and reflectors arranged upright in a row. A slot communicating between the conveyor chamber and oven chamber provides for travel of suspended food carrying skewers within the oven chamber and incorporates a gasket seal to retain heat and inhibit transfer of contaminants downwardly to the oven chamber. Each skewer provides a stripper disk for facilitating unloading of food products and a retention clip for retaining food products vertically arrayed on each skewer. The oven has loading and unloading station doors at opposite sides and access doors at its ends to facilitate cooking and cleaning. The method of cooking shish kebobs or food carrying skewers allows for arranging food products selectively in a vertical array to obtain desired juice drippage between suspended food products to achieve a desired predetermined basting and seasoning therebetween.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to cooking ovens, and more particularly to anapparatus and method for vertically cooking shish kebobs carried throughan oven chamber.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the automated cooking of food products, it is known to rotate thefood being cooked in an oven as it is carried on hangers along an ovenpath by an endless conveyor past heating elements. A previously knownapparatus for achieving this result was disclosed by Hemley in U.S. Pat.No. 2,333,175. It is also known to mount food on a spit carried by aholding arm on an endless carrier in a continuous fashion betweeninfra-red radiant gas heaters as disclosed by Otsuka in U.S. Pat. No.3,563,160. Otsuka discloses a device for cooking spit carried food andit achieves the result by intermittently exposing the food to anuncovered heater while carrying it over a travel path. However, Otsukadoes not provide an oven chamber for cooking the food. Neither of thepreceding devices teach a method of constantly directly exposing food ina single open cooking oven chamber to a central heating element array inorder to broil the food. Additionally, neither device monitors thedone-ness of food being cooked, and neither allows for preselectedarrangement of food products to achieve desired seasoning between foodproducts from juice drippage vertically descending on vertically arrayedfood products.

Additional prior art patents of general interest are: 1,638,452;2,728,286; 3,003,409; 4,366,182 and 4,401,018.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatusand method for efficiently cooking vertically suspended food products ona skewer. Another object is to provide an oven of the above character ina single open cooking oven chamber with a centrally arranged heatingelement array therein and wherein food is cooked while traveling in anendless horizontal path encircling such array while constantly directlyand indirectly exposing such food products to radiant and convectionheat generated by such array throughout the entire travel path therein.An additional object is to provide for monitoring of food productscarried on a particular skewer in the oven and enable easy determinationof done-ness of such particular products as a function of oven traveltime. Still another object is to facilitate cooking of shish kebobs in amanner suited for a fast-food-type continuous cooking operation, and toenable a preselected drippage of juices from the cooking process tocause automatic basting of flavors and spices between particular foodproducts. Further objects are to provide in an oven and method of theaforesaid character inexpensive drip collection means oriented andarranged to facilitate fast and easy clean-up of juice drippage from thecooking process, as well as fully effective containment of juicestherefrom to provide for a cleaner cooking operation, and contribute toa substantially smokeless mode of cooking of food products within theoven.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Presently preferred embodiments of the invention, together withadditional objects, features and advantages thereof, are set forth inthe following detailed description, the appended claims and illustratedin the accompanying drawings (which are scaled from engineering drawingsunless otherwise indicated) in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the cookingoven of the present invention, with associated support stand and exhaustcanopy shown fragmentarily.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the cooking oven shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the conveyor drivetrough, and a portion of the adjoining conveyor system.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken generally on the line4--4 of FIG. 2 with selected portions broken away at the oven centerlineand illustrated in elevation for clarity.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of FIG.2.

FIG. 5A is a vertical cross-sectional fragmentary view showing aconveyor track and chain in cross-section, and enlarged and taken fromFIG. 5.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 6--6 ofFIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the conveyorchain, the conveyor drive chain, a conveyor carrier and a shish kebobskewer removably suspended on a rod hanger of a conveyor carrier.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a conveyor carrier as shown inFIGS. 4, 5 and 7.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a conveyor carrier operablyengaged with a fixed rod abutment for imparting rotation thereto.

FIG. 10 is a partially exploded perspective view of the array of burnersand reflectors as carried by a central platform and utilized in the ovendepicted in FIGS. 1-6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Overview of thePreferred Embodiment

Referring to the drawings, a cooking oven constructed in accordance withthe present invention is generally designated by the numeral 20 in FIGS.1, 2 and 4-6. In FIG. 1, the cooking oven 20 is shown mounted on a stand22 and attached to an exhaust canopy 24 carrying conventional exhaustfilter equipment therein (not shown) to exhaust the oven cooking chamberthrough its exhaust tube 28. The exhaust canopy, exhaust filterequipment and stand form no part of the present invention per se andaccordingly will not be described in detail.

Referring generally to FIGS. 1-5, the cooking oven 20 includes an ovensection 30 with a conveyor section 32 superimposed thereon and attachedthereto. A conveyor system 34 (FIG. 4) is housed within conveyor section32 and provides for transportation of food while being cookedtherebeneath in oven 20 and carries such food in a horizontal ellipticalloop travel path 36 entirely contained within the interior of oven 20,as depicted in FIG. 6. A heating element array 38 is arranged in a rowcentrally of an oven cooking chamber 40 and is encircled by the foodtravel path 36. Oven 20 is constructed such that oven cooking chamber 40is a single open space contained therein. The conveyor system 34 carriesa plurality of food skewers 51-68 in horizontally spaced relation whichare individually removably attached and hung vertically from theconveyor system with the skewers being constantly directly exposed tothe heating element array 38 throughout their travel in the horizontalpath 36, thereby forming a complete heating and cooking cycle aroundarray 38 within oven cooking chamber 40. A conveyor drive system 70(FIG. 2), driven by a variable speed electric motor 72, provideslocomotion to the conveyor system 34 and food products 74 carriedthereby. An array of internested removable drip pans 800-817 (FIGS. 4-6)is disposed within the oven chamber 40 and positioned beneath the pathof travel of the food products 74 carried by and hung beneath theconveyor on skewers 51-68, so as to provide for collection of drippageresulting from the food cooking process.

Oven Body

Referring in more detail to FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, the exterior portion ofthe cooking oven 20 as formed by the conveyor section 32 and ovensection 30 forms a rectangular box-like cooking oven shell 80 (FIG. 1).The shell about the conveyor section 32 is constructed from an outerskin of stainless steel sheet metal panels 82 attached to an exteriorperiphery of a tubular framework 84 constructed from tubular members90-105 to form the conveyor section framework (FIGS. 4 and 5).Preferably, the skin is welded to the frame. Alternatively, mechanicalfasteners can be substituted therefor. Additionally, roof frame members106, 108 (FIGS. 2 and 5) carried by and suspended from vertical members110-113 (FIGS. 2 and 5) and cross-members 114-116 (FIGS. 2 and 5)affixed to the conveyor chamber frame structurally support an ovenchamber roof 118 (FIGS. 4 and 5).

An oven chamber floor 120 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is formed by joining pairs ofopen channel section members 130-143 together to form a pair ofend-arranged transverse closed section members 146,148 and a pair oflongitudinal closed section members 150,152 extending therebetween, eachreceiving insulation 154 therein to provide for an insulated ovenchamber floor.

Likewise, the oven chamber roof 118 (FIGS. 4 and 5) comprises asuspended central portion 156 formed from a series of channel members160-171 received between and affixed to a pair of generally parallelstainless steel sheet metal panels 172,174 to provide for a multiplechambered enclosed interior for receiving insulation 154 therein. Theperiphery 176 of roof 118 is formed from a series of tubular frameworkmembers 178-184 constructed and arranged to span the periphery of thebase of the conveyor section, being attached thereto and carrying theconveyor section sheet metal panels 82 thereabout. Each tubularframework member 178-184 joins to a corresponding inwardly disposed openchannel member 186-192 with a pair of sheet metal faces 194,196 so as toform at least one hollow portion 198 therein. Each hollow portionreceives insulation 154 therein to provide for insulation of theperipheral portion of the oven chamber roof 118.

The vertical four-sided rectangular shell 200 about the oven section 30is constructed from double walled panels 202-208 (FIGS. 1 and 6), suchas formed by bending and welding stainless steel sheet metal, having aspace therebetween for receiving insulation 154 therein, as well asfurther structural hollow framework members 222-236 (FIGS. 1, 4 and 5)forming the oven chamber sidewalls about the loading and unloadingstations and the access doors (described hereinafter), each receivinginsulation therein. The cross members 114-116 (FIGS. 2-4) in theconveyor chamber further provide for mounting of the conveyor systemthereto.

Cabinet Access Doors

As depicted in FIGS. 1,4 and 6, a pair of cabinet access doors 250,252are provided for releasable, lift-away attachment to respective oppositeends 254,256 of the oven section 30. A pair of angle brackets 258,260and 262,264 carried at the base of each door, respectively, form areceiving groove 266, 268 between each bracket and the bottom lip 270,272 of each door to receive each horizontal base members 230, 234 ofeach oven chamber end therein, respectively. Releasable attachment ofthe upper portion of each door to each oven section end is furtherprovided by a pair of magnets 274, 276 and 278, 280 carried adjacent thetop edge of each door, respectively, for releasable magnetic attachmentto an upper cross member 232, 236 of the oven chamber shell 200 on eachoven chamber end, respectively. A pair of handles 282, 284 and 286, 288affixed to the exterior of each door, respectively, facilitatesinsertion and removal thereof.

Load/Unload Stations

As shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, oven section 30 is provided centrally inits laterally opposite sides with a loading station 290 on one side andlaterally opposed unloading station 292 in its other side, eachconstructed from a pair of sliding glass access doors 294, 296 and 298,300 respectively. Each door is received in a complementary groovedframe, or raceway, 302,304, respectively, having adjacent paralleltracks formed therein each receiving one of the pair of doors, with theframe extending about the periphery 306, 308 of the loading andunloading stations and affixed to the oven chamber shell 200. Each doorand track is disposed in parallel relationship with the adjoining doorand track, and each door spans slightly more than half the side wallwindow opening so as to provide for mutually overlapping sliding motiontherealong to open either or both ends of the window opening in varyingamounts as desired, while still providing for sealable engagementtherebetween as each door is brought to its fully spread apart closedposition. As viewed in FIG. 1, a loading station is shown with the righthand door 296 in a partially open position to provide access to shishkebob skewers 51-68 within the oven chamber. As depicted, the pair ofleft and right access doors 294, 296 are partially overlapped and theleft hand door is in its closed position. Construction of these doorsfrom a heat-resistant transparent glass material provides for easyviewing and monitoring of food products as they are carried and beingcooked within the oven chamber 40.

Conveyor System

As seen in FIGS. 2-5, a tubular conveyor track 301 is carried within theconveyor section 32 and is driven by the conveyor drive 70 which impartsmotion to a conveyor chain 303 carried within the conveyor track.Preferably, the sections of conveyor track, conveyor chain and conveyordrive are known components such as those commercially available fromPacline Corporation, Missassauga, Ontario. As best shown in FIG. 2, theconveyor drive includes a first end unit 305 with an end shaft 307journalled in a pair of pillow blocks 309, 310, and carrying a pair ofdrive sprockets 312, 314 disposed between blocks 309, 310 and beingfixed and rotatably driven by shaft 307. A chain drive sprocket 316 iscarried on one end portion 318 of shaft 307 which extends beyond thepillow block 310. A chain 320 is trained at one end over sprocket 316and at its other end over an output sprocket 322 of a gear reductiondrive unit 324 which in turn is driven by variable speed electric motor72.

The second end unit 326 of conveyor drive 70 includes an idler shaft 328journalled in a pair of pillow blocks 330, 332 and carrying a pair ofidler sprockets 334, 336 disposed between the pillow blocks. A pair ofconveyor drive chains 338, 340 extend between and are trained at theirends over drive sprockets 312, 314 and idler sprockets 334, 336,respectively. A pair of drive chain supports 342, 344 are disposed inspaced relation between the first and second end units so as to extendbeneath the top run of each conveyor drive chain to provide a slidesupport for the top runs.

As depicted in FIG. 7, and partially in FIG. 5, each conveyor drivechain 338, 340 carries, at equally spaced intervals therealong, an arrayof tandem pairs of drive dogs 346, 348 positioned therealong for pairedembracing and interdigitating driving engagement with a given one of atrain of horizontal conveyor chain bearing wheels 349 as the same iscarried along the conveyor chain track 301 closely beneath theassociated bottom runs 339 and 341 of chains 338 and 340. A laterallyarrayed pair of wheels 350 and 352 are mounted on an axle 362 passingthrough the first link 364 of a pair of alternating links formingconveyor chain 303. Conveyor track 301 comprises a tubular raceway 370(FIG. 5) with a longitudinal slot 372 on the bottom, the wheels of eachpair straddling the slot. At the conveyor drive station 70, the conveyortrack 301 changes from tubular raceway 370 to a conveyor drive trough374, as depicted in FIGS. 3 and 5. Trough 374 is open from above toprovide access to the conveyor chain 303 for the chain drivingengagement of drive dogs 346, 348 with respectively associatedhorizontal bearing wheels 349. Slot 372 continues on through trough 374as the wheels are centered in straddled relation over slot 374 by theequally inclined sidewalls of trough 374.

Referring in more detail to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the tubular conveyor track301 includes a pair of U-shaped end runs 380, 382, each having a pair offlanged end portions 384, 386 and 388, 390, respectively, for removableconnection with fasteners to a pair of complementary flanges 392, 394and 396, 398 carried by a pair of straight tubular track runs 400, 402and 404,406, respectively, so as to provide for an elliptical continuousraceway 408 therethrough.

A drive-communicating straight run assembly 430 (FIG. 2) is provided,including the conveyor drive trough 374 (FIG. 3) connected betweenstraight run portion 402 and an additional straight run portion 436affixed thereto and extending therefrom. Run 436 has a flange 438 fixedto a flange 480 by fasteners 444 as depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3. Drivetrough 374 is suspended beneath and affixed to cross members 114, 115 inthe conveyor chamber roof by shoulder bolts 446-449 extending downwardlytherefrom. Trough 374 thus provides an upwardly open section in track301 to enable coupling between the conveyor drive chains 338, 340 andthe conveyor chain 303, and trough 374 also provides for additionalaccess and servicing to such chains.

Likewise, a service opening straight run portion 450 (FIG. 2) providesanother access opening for servicing conveyor chain 303. Run 450includes a tubular U-section 451 having bottom slot 372 and open at thetop and attached by a pair of end flanges 452, 454 to a flange 456carried by straight run 400 and to a flange 458 carried by straight runportion 460. The service run 450 and adjoining closed straight runportions 400, 460 are jointly suspended beneath and affixed tocross-members 114, 115 by conveyor track hangers 462, 464 (FIG. 4),respectively.

Chain tensioning means are provided by a pair of straight run chaintensioning assemblies 470 and 472. Chain tensioning assemblies 470 and472 respectively include a tubular straight run portion 474 and 476 withrespective flanges 478, 480 at one end of each portion 474 and 476 forattachment to the respectively adjoining straight run portion 460, 436.Each of the tubular run portions 474, 476 has an inside diameterdimensioned to slidably telescopically receive in the open ends thereofthe open ends of associated straight run portions 406, 404. Both pairsof telescoped runs 474, 406 and 476, 404 are yieldably forced in thedirection of track elongation by coaction of an associated compressionspring 481, 483. Runs 474 and 476 each have brackets 482 and 486respectively affixed thereto, and likewise runs 404 and 406 each havebrackets 484 and 488 affixed thereto. Bracket pairs 474, 476 and 482,486 respectively support a threaded rod 490 and 492 affixed at one endto brackets 482, 486 The other end of each rod 490, 492 is slidablethrough associated brackets 484, 488. Springs 481 and 483 are sleeved onrods 490 and 492 respectively and butt at one end against brackets 484and 488 respectively. The other end of springs 481 and 483 respectivelyabut against adjustment nuts 494 and 496 threadably received on theassociated rod. Adjustment of nuts 494 and 496 along their associatedrods provides for adjustment of resulting compression forces of thesprings 481 and 483 coacting between the nuts 494, 496 and brackets 484,488 and hence tending to force track end section 382 toward the right asviewed in FIG. 2, thereby tending to elongate the conveyor track 301.These track elongating forces in turn are resisted by conveyor chain 303captured within the tubular conveyor track 301, and hence maintaintension in chain 303.

Conveyor Hangers

Referring in more details to FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 5A, a conveyor pendant522-539 is provided on one of a pair of alternating links formingconveyor chain 303, namely T-link 364. Each pendant is formed from adownwardly extending portion of each T-link so as to extend through slot372. A shackle 369 is carried adjacent each of a pair of ends of eachT-link with a rivet 371 so as to provide rotation in the vertical planebetween the T-link and shackle. A pair of spaced link plates 366, 367form a tandem link 365 between each T-link. Each end of each tandem linkis affixed through each shackle by a pin 373. Each tandem link furthercarries a horizontal bearing wheel 349 between link plates 366, 367, andis carried for rotation on a roller pin 375 fixed between each linkplate.

Conveyor chain 303 is formed by an alternating array of T-links 364 andtandem links 365. Chain 303 flexes in a horizontal plane via relativemotion between each tandem link 365 and shackle 369 through pin 373.Additionally, chain 303 flexes in the vertical plane via motion betweeneach shackle 369 and T-link 364 through rotation of rivet 371 in T-link364. Each T-link further carries one pair of laterally arrayed wheels350, 352 generally above each pendant 522-539 and mounted on axle 362.

Conveyor Carrier

As best seen in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, a plurality of conveyor carrierassemblies 540-557 are individually affixed one to each of the conveyorpendants 522-539 by a bolt 560 and nut 562. Bolt 560 is received throughcomplementary strap hole 564 and carrier holes 566 and 568. A pair ofspacers 570, 572 are sleeved on bolt 560 and interposed one on each sideof pendant 522. Each carrier assembly 540-557 provides at its lower enda receiving hole 574 (FIG. 8) for removably receiving and engaging theupper end of a carrier hanger rod 576 (FIG. 7) constructed from a wireor the like. Hanger rod 576 has a hook 578 at its lower end 580 uponwhich is removably suspended a shish kebob skewer 51-68 carrying foodproducts 74 thereon for cooking within oven chamber 40 (FIG. 7).

In order to provide uniform cooking of food products 74 carried on eachshish kebob skewer 51-68 by conveyor system 34 about the interior ofoven chamber 40, each conveyor carrier assembly 540-557 controllably andintermittently rotates its associated hanger rod 576 and suspendedskewer through 90° increments about a vertical axis of rotation as thecarrier and skewer travel horizontally along conveyor path 36. Eachconveyor carrier assembly 540-557 provides such quarter-turn incrementalrotation via a gravity biased detent mechanism 581 (FIG. 9) rotatablyactuated by a star wheel disc 582 when impinging against fixed abutments584-594 prepositioned along the carrier travel path, such as depicted byrod 584 in FIG. 9.

More particularly, each conveyor carrier assembly 540-557 has a U-shapedcarrier body 590 (FIGS. 8 and 9) formed by a pair of spaced upright arms591 and 591' formed at their lower ends by a flat web 592 having ajournal opening 593 therein. A detent washer 594, having a washer keyway596 is carried on a detent plate 598 having a journal opening 600. Bothwasher 594 and plate 598 are carried above and on web 592 of carrierbody 590. Assembly 540 also includes a bearing sleeve made up of sleevehalves 602 and 604, each having a pair of tangs 606, 608 and 610, 612extending from their respective ends. Bearing sleeve 602-604 is receivedthrough and journalled in the detent plate journal opening 600 and thecarrier body journal opening 593. Star wheel disc 582 has a disc keyway614 for receiving therethrough a carrier strap 615. Strap 615 has acarrier pin keyway 616, a pair of bearing sleeve shoulders 618, 620 inopposed relation, a pair of star wheel shoulders 622, 624 also inopposed relation. Strap 615 also has a hole 574 at its lower end forreceiving the upper end of an associated carrier rod 576. Assembly 540also includes a keyway pin 628 with a ring hole 630 receiving aretention snap ring 632 therethrough.

In assembly, the upper end of carrier strap 615 is inserted upwardlythrough star wheel keyway 614 until star wheel 582 rests on strapshoulders 618 and 620. The upper end of strap 615 is further insertedthrough body opening 593, plate opening 600 and disc keyway 596 withbearing sleeve 602-604 received thereabout. Strap 615 is journalled inbody 580 by bearing sleeve 602-604 which is received in body journalopening 593 and in detent plate journal opening 600. The upper end ofstrap 615 is also inserted through detent washer keyway 596 so as toprotrude above detent washer 594. Upon such assembly, keyway pin 628 isinserted through strap keyway 616 to retain the parts in assembledrelation. Retention snap ring 632 is then pivoted over the upper end ofstrap 615 to capture pin 628 on strap 615. The snap ring is releasablylocked in strap engagement by forcing ring 632 over a shoulder noseportion 634 of keyway pin 628 to thereby provide a releasable,snap-fastened, pinned retention of the assembled parts of carrier 540.

As depicted diagrammatically in FIG. 6, thirty two conveyor carriers540-557 are carried by the conveyor chain in equidistant spacedrelationship thereabout, preferably of center to center spacing of 6".Additionally, as depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5, each conveyor-suspendedcarrier hanger rod 576 extends vertically downwardly from the interiorof the conveyor section 32 into oven chamber 40 for suspension of askewer thereon for travel in chamber 40. To further retain heat withinoven chamber 40 and prevent contaminants dropping from the conveyor fromfalling into oven chamber 40, a silicone gasket seal 636 is mounted atopoven chamber roof 118 and along the conveyor carrier rod travel pathslot 638. Seal 636 comprises a series of opposed pairs of internestingflexible gasket sheets 640, 642, each fixed along one edge of the sheetson opposed sides of slot 638 in the oven chamber roof and overlappingslightly at their free edges. Motion of each carrier rod 576 locallydisplaces the yieldably overlapping free edges of the opposed pair ofsheets immediately adjacent such rod as the carrier rod travelstherealong, the gasket edges resuming overlapped relationship to providesubstantially complete sealing of the slot after each rod passes by.

Additionally, a conically shaped dirt shield 694 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 7) isforcibly and frictionally carried one on each carrier hanger rod 576 soas to form a canopy generally vertically above the shish kebob skewer51-68 carried therebelow so as to additionally shield the same from dirtand contaminants dropping from the conveyor system 34 and conveyor drive70 thereabove.

As best seen in FIGS. 3-6 and 9, an array of fixed abutments 584-594 areplaced in stationarily fixed equidistant spaced relationship about thetravel path 36 of the carriers 540-557. Abutments 584-594 may beconstructed from cylindrical rod stock and arranged to obstruct travelthereby of the outer end of the inwardly pointing one of the four arms644-650 of each star wheel 582 of each carrier 540-557 as each isbrought into impingement with each rod as the star wheels are carriedabout the path of travel 36 by conveyor 34. As the impinging one of thefour arms 644-650 is restrained by a rod, forward motion of theassociated star wheel 582 with its carrier imparts rotation to the starwheel about its vertically oriented axis of rotation. The gravity detentmechanism 581 of the carrier yields to such rod restraint to allow a 90°rotation of the star wheel 582, its associated detent washer 594 andcarrier strap 615 to further impart a quarter-turn revolution to thecarrier rod 576 and suspended shish kebob skewer 62 about the verticalaxis of rotation of this entire suspended assembly. Thus, as eachcarrier 540-557 passes each fixed rod 584-594, the suspended skewer 62and food products 74 carried thereon revolve 90° relative to carrierbody 590 and conveyor chain link 522 connected thereto.

More particularly, and as best shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the foregoingrotational operation of the conveyor carrier 540 to produce successivequarter-turn revolutions, a shish kebob skewer 62 suspended therebelowat regularly spaced intervals along travel path 36 is regulated andstabilized by operation of the gravity detent mechanism 581 throughcoaction between detent washer 594 and detent plate 598. The weight of aloaded shish kebob skewer 62 and hanger 576 is transferred throughcarrier strap 615 and brought to bear by pin 628 upon detent washer 594,which rotates with strap 615 relative to detent plate 598 and body 590.The combined weight of detent washer 594, bearing sleeve 602-604, starwheel 582, keyway pin 628, ring 632, carrier strap 615, carrier rod 576,and any suspended shish kebob skewer 62 and food products 74 impartsdownward gravitational loading on detent washer 594 to forcibly engageit with detent plate 598. An array of four detent protrusions 660-666disposed at 90° increments in detent washer 598 depressed downwardlyfrom the principal plane of washer mate with four corresponding detentpockets 668-674 in detent plate 598. When the arrays of washer detents660-666 are registered with plate detents 668-674, the washer 594 andplate 598 are closely nested in parallel relationship. As the array ofwasher detents 660-664 is rotated, when a rod 584-594 indexes theassociated star wheel a quarter-turn, they are forced out ofregistration with the plate detents, thereby vertically lifting washer594 an amount equal to the depth of each detent and causing the washerdetents to ride upon the substantially planar portion 676 of theremaining top surface of detent plate 598. As the star wheel disc 582completes its quarter-turn and is about to travel beyond the fixedabutment rod, washer detents 660-666 rotate to drop into indexedre-registry with detents 668-674 and thereby yieldably retain star wheel582 in this quarter-turned indexed orientation until engagement alongtravel path 36 with the next successive abutment 584-594. As washer 594is so re-registering detents with plate 598, washer 594 vertically dropsas it nests on plate 598 by the depth of the detents. FIG. 9 depictscompletion of such a cycle as detent washer 594 drops into a new nestedarrangement with plate 598, this orientation being maintained by thegravitational vertical loading.

Shish Kebob Skewer Assembly

As depicted in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7, each shish kebob skewer 51-68 is formedfrom a piece of wire, preferably made of stainless steel and having anon-circular cross-section, having a looped eyelet upper end 676 havinga parting gap 677 large enough for readily removable attachment on theend hook 578 of an associated carrier hanger rod 576. Each skewer alsohas a downwardly extending axial shaft 678 and a sharp tip 680 forthrough-piercing food products 74 as they are skewed onto the shaft. Aconically shaped food stripper 682 is removably carried on skewer shaft678 above the food products 74, and in proximal relation to skewereyelet 676 for facilitating removal of food products 74 from the skewerafter removal of the same from the oven with a load of the fully cookedfood products 74 thereon.

A retaining clip 684 is removable affixed to the lower end of shaft 678of each skewer for retaining a load of food products 74 on the skewerand to adjustably trap such food products between stripper 682 and theclip. Preferably, such clip is manually removed from skewer shaft 678prior to stripping food products 74 off shaft 678 by moving stripper 682along shaft 678 toward shaft end 680.

A retaining clip 684 is formed from a generally flat piece of flexibleand springy material such as a strip of stainless steel spring metal andhas a pair of spaced apertures 686 and 688 for receiving the skewershaft 678 slidably therethrough with a close fit when the retainer clipis flexed into a bowed and stressed condition. After such insertion ofskewer shaft 678 and upon release of the flexed clip 684 from the bowedand stressed condition, the clip 684 is restrained from returning to anunbowed free-state condition due to the small clearance betweenapertures 686, 688 with shaft 678. The spring force thus developedcauses clip 684 to frictionally grip skewer shaft 678 to therebyyieldably restrain sliding movement of clip 684 along the skewer.Preferably, clip 684 additionally includes a pair of reversely bentfinger-gripping tabs 690 and 692 integrally carried at opposite ends ofclip 684. Tabs 690 and 692 are generally displaced from the plane of thestrip and suitably curved to facilitate finger retention of theretaining clip with one hand and flexing and bowing of clip 684 forinsertion and removal on the associated skewer 51-68.

Drip Pans

As depicted in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the internested drip pan arraycomprises an arrangement of individually removable drip pans 800-817which are end lip-nested together by caps 820-833 carried over adjoiningadjacent end lips, such as depicted by cap 827 over end lips 840 and 841(FIG. 4), to direct juice drippage from the cooking process into eachadjoining pan. Preferably, each cap is removably carried by the end lipsof each pair of adjoining pans as depicted in FIG. 4, to facilitateremoval and cleaning of the cap and pans, as well as to facilitateemptying of each pan prior to cleaning. Each cap 827 generally providesa pair of opposed inclined surfaces 842, 844 with a bridge 846 formedtherebetween for directing drippage down one or both surfaces into anadjoining pan. Caps 820-833 and pans 800-817 provide complete horizontalcoverage of the oven chamber floor beneath the carrier suspended shishkebob travel path 36 to catch drippage from cooking food productsthereabove, caps 820-833 insuring that substantially all of suchdrippage is drained into the array of internested drip pans 800-817, aswill be best seen in the plan view of FIG. 6.

Beating Element Array

Heating element array 38 is constructed and arranged single filevertically and centrally of oven chamber 40 and comprises a horizontalrow of vertically oriented alternating burners 850-860 and reflectors862-870. Preferably, infra-red gas-fired burners such as provided bySolaronics, Inc., Model #5K402, are utilized. As depicted in FIGS. 4, 5,6 and 10, six such burners 850-860 of cylindrical geometry are arrangedwith their axes vertical, with five columnar reflectors 862-870individually interposed therebetween in an alternating array, the arraybeing carried on a central burner platform 872. Reflectors 862-870 arepreferably diamond-shaped in horizontal cross-section (FIG. 6) withtheir obtuse angle apices parallel to and aligned with the axes ofburners 850-860. As shown in more detail in FIG. 10, removable sidepanels 874-880 attach in spaced relation to the sides of a box-likehousing 881 which serves as the burner mounting base. Housing 881 hasaccess slots 882-892 for conventionally fixing pipe unions to gas feedlines (not shown) to fire such burners. Preferably, reflectors 862 areconstructed to optimize reflection of infra-red radiant energy emittedfrom an adjacent pair of flanking burners 850-860 into travel path 36.Additional secondary reflection into path 36 of such infrared radiationis provided by the stainless steel sheet metal 182 exposed on the innersurfaces of the oven chamber 40 such as is provided by panels 202-208and oven roof skin 174.

As will be well understood by those skilled in the burner art, and as isconventional, the gas lines supply a premix combustion feed of naturalgas and air which is controlled and regulated through a main gasregulator (not shown) and six individual manual safety shut-off gascocks and solenoid valves (not shown). Likewise, a flame sensor rod (notshown) detects the presence of combustion therein while a combustionmixture is being fed to each burner, and provides for shut-off in theevent of loss of flame. Further control system components operablyconnect and communicate with each burner to provide for control ofsystem operation, such as is typically utilized for gas burners of thistype. Each of the burners 850-860 may be individually controlled so thatany one or more of the burners may be operated during a cookingoperation.

Food Monitoring System

As depicted in FIGS. 1 and 9, a counter/identification mechanism 900monitors the loaded/unloaded status of each conveyor carrier 540-557with respect to food product carrying skewers 51-68, and furthermonitors degree of done-ness of the food products 74 carried thereon.Additionally, incorporation of a computerized monitoring system 902allows for operator monitoring of types of food products carried on aspecific skewer as well as variations in seasonings as applied thereon.The counter/identification mechanism comprises an identifying bar codeand number tag 904 carried on a vertical face 905 of each carrier body590 as depicted in FIG. 9, and a bar code scanner 906 mounted on theoven shell 80 and constructed and arranged to read each bar code as ittravels in front of the scanner (FIG. 1). A photovoltaic eye 908,preferably placed just downstream of the loading station 290, isoperable to detect a skewer-loaded carrier 540-557 by monitoring a lightbeam emitted from a light source 910 constructed and arranged so thatthe beam is interrupted by a skewer passing therebetween in a mannerwhich causes the photovoltaic eye to trigger a reading. Bar code scanner906 is then instructed to identify the loaded carrier, and theassociated computer electronics system begins timing and tracking thestatus of the loaded carrier via the carrier's bar code. The systemfurther provides output to a video display monitor (not shown) allowingan operator to visually track on the display the status of each carrier,particularly the identity of a particular skewer thereon and the time ithas been carried in the oven. The operator at the unloading station 292can determine the status of a particular carrier food product by viewingsame on the monitor. Then by viewing through an observation window 916provided one on each side of the conveyor cabinet above the load andunload stations, the unload operator can visually identify thatparticular product by the number on each carrier which corresponds withthe status displayed on the monitor. Thus, the system enables anunskilled operator to selectively remove food-product-laden skewers fromtheir associated carriers in accordance with the desired degree ofdone-ness without exercise of culinary judgment.

Operation and Method

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, asdepicted variously in FIGS. 1-10 and as hereinbefore described, theoperation of such an oven 20 constructed in accordance with the presentinvention, and its use in practicing the method of the invention toprepare food products 74 such as shish kebobs or chickens forpreparation and delivery in a fast food operation is hereinafterdescribed. Before loading food product carrying skewers 51-68 into ovenchamber 40, the oven operator turns on both the oven burners 850-860 andoven conveyor 34, including manually selecting an array of valves (notshown) to turn on a predetermined selection of burners within theheating element array 38. When conveyor motor 72 is started, motion isimparted through reduction drive 324 and chain drive 320 to conveyordrive 70 and drive chains 338, 340 therein, which in turn drive conveyorchain 303 so as to impart motion to each of the carriers 540-557suspended therefrom to cause the associated hanger rod 576 affixedthereto to travel along path 36 in oven chamber 40. Preferably, thedrive motion is continuous and at a constant velocity, such as about 8feet per minute.

Either before or after start-up of the cooking oven 20, the operator orother food service personnel prepare an assortment of food-loaded shishkebob skewers 540-557 for later suspension and cooking in oven chamber40. In this food preparation stage, a conical stripper 682 is firstinserted about the skewer tip 680 and slid up skewer shaft 678 to abutskewer eyelet 676. A pre-arranged array of food products 74 are thenimpaled by the skewer tip and slid onto the skewer shaft, preferably ina predetermined arrangement which provides for desirable seasoning andjuice drippage onto associated adjacent food products during thesubsequent conveyor-hung cooking of this food product array. Finally, aretaining clip 684 is removably installed on the skewer shaft 678 toretain the food products thereon. To facilitate engagement of clip 684on the skewer, the clip is gripped by the operator with opposed fingerssqueezing a pair of finger-gripping ends 690, 692 so as to bow the bodyof the clip to align the pair of apertures 686, 688 therein to slidablyreceive the skewer shaft therethrough. Upon release of thefinger-gripping ends, the clip tends to spring back into its unstressedcondition. This spring force causes gripping engagement between the pairof apertures and the skewer shaft to thereby frictionally retain clip684 from slipping along shaft 678 to thereby insure vertical retentionof food products suspended by impalement thereon.

A loading operator, provided with a tray of prepared-food-carryingskewers 540-557, proceeds to the loading station 290 of the oven box 30and, with door window 294, 296 opened to the desired extent, beginshanging food-carrying skewers on each next available empty carrier rodhook 578 passing thereby. To load a skewer, one of the sliding glassaccess doors 294, 296 at the loading station is slid open in its raceway302 and the loading operator, gripping a food loaded skewer adjacent itslower end hangs the skewer upper end eyelet 676 on the visible carrierrod hook as the same is traveling across the access opening.

The unloaded carriers become available for loading of skewers thereon aseach unloaded rod carrier hook is brought by the conveyor via path 36back to the loading station. Additionally, the loading operator or anassistant can record specific characteristics of food products 74carried on specific skewers (e.g., "chicken" vs. "shish kebob") byinputting same into an interactive computer 902 operably connected formonitoring and controlling of the scanner 906 and photovoltaic eye 908as previously described above.

After the conveyor has been fully or partially loaded, in accordancewith the current demand for the cooked food products, an unloadingoperator, stationed at the unloading station 292 removes fully cookedshish kebob skewers therefrom. To unload a food-laden skewer, one of thepair of sliding glass access doors 298, 300 at the unloading station 292is slid open in its raceway 304. The unloading operator, viewing throughthe observation window 916 in the conveyor chamber, identifies thenumber corresponding with a particular bar code 904, as identified onthe monitor, to determine done-ness of the food product carried thereon,determines which skewer to remove therefrom, and reaches within the ovento grab the lower portion of the selected skewer and lifts the eyelet686 off of the carrier rod hook 578 to remove the skewer from the oven.The unloading operator can be situated to receive orders from customersand to unload shish kebob skewers having the desired characteristics asordered by a particular customer. For example, the unloading operatorcan retrieve a "well done" shish kebob for a customer by observing thevideo display monitor 914 for a carrier having a skewer which has beencarried in the oven for a preselected period of time corresponding tothat required to cook a shish kebob to such level.

Upon completion of the continuous loading, cooking and servingoperation, e.g., at the close of business hours, the oven 20 may be shutdown by first turning off the burners 850-860, and then turning off theconveyor system 34. Next, the exhaust hood and filter system is turnedoff. The collection of drippage from the cooking operation is thenemptied from the oven by manually removing each end access door 250, 252to provide access to the pans 800-817 positioned in the bottom of theoven chamber 40. Each drip cap 820-833 is removed from the closest pairof internested drip pans, and then the first drip pan is removed fromthe oven and its contents are emptied into a holding tank. Likewise, thenext drip cap is removed from the next closest pair of internested drippans and the closest pan is removed. The preceding is repeated until allpans and caps have been removed from the oven. To facilitate removal ofthe pans, the closest pan can be pulled towards the operator in a mannerwhich pulls the whole array of drip pans slidably towards the operatorthrough the interlocking coaction of the caps as carried over adjoiningpans. Upon removal of all drip pans and drip caps, the aforementionedare washed and cleaned, and the interior of the oven is likewise washedand cleaned. Finally, the array of internested drip pans and caps areinserted in reverse order of their removal. To facilitate theirinsertion, the operator can push the closest pan into the oven in amanner which abuts and pushes all preceding and adjoining pans in thesame direction.

Cooking of shish kebobs with the apparatus and method of this inventionprovides for selective and controlled seasoning and basting ofpre-arranged and selected associated food products carried in an arrayon each shish kebob skewer. Vertical cooking of a suspended array offood products provides opportunities for preselectively arrangingvarious food products in an array which allows for juice drippage ofproducts carried above and adjacent products to be seasoned by suchjuice drippage. Alternatively, pre-arrangement of food productsproducing juice drippage to hang beneath various other food productsprovides for segregation of such food products and prevents cominglingof seasonings and juice between products. Traditional cooking of shishkebobs carried on skewers does not provide for an effective cominglingof juice drippage in order to obtain a desirable seasoning and basting,especially between non-adjacent food products, as such traditional shishkebobs are generally cooked in a horizontal array beneath a broiler oron top of a grill. Seasonings and juices are then brushed or sprayedonto the horizontally arrayed food products while they cook.

Additional advantages provided by this invention allow for feasiblecooking of the shish kebob products in a fast-food operation and in amanner which is adaptable for mass production of food pre-preparationoperations, such as provided by centrally preparing skewers withpre-arranged foods thereon for later suspension in a cooking oven. Theinvention provides an economical and reliable oven construction capableof operating at a high production rate when cooking shish kebobs. Theoven is versatile and can accommodate a large range of customer demand,as the number of lit burners can be tailored with the travel speed toadjust for high volume fast cooking and low volume slow cooking of shishkebobs contained therein. By preselecting the number of burners turnedon at any given time, the oven is operable economically for cookingshish kebobs over the entire travel path with a minimum of lit burners.The cooking operation is clean as it is contained within an enclosedoven chamber, and enables compliance with strict commercial food servicehealth standards since it minimizes or eliminates direct food handlingby employees operating the oven. Even unskilled personnel are able tooperate the oven and practice the method of this invention utilizing theoven. Suspended skewer cooking of food products in the oven of theinvention is adaptable to cooking a variety of types of foods such aschicken, beef, fish, tomatoes, mushrooms and onions, and achievesbroiling of foods without smoke as food drippage is contained within anarray of trays and does not burn on a heat source as in traditionalbroiling or similar cooking methods. Further, the invention provides forsafe cooking as operators are isolated from the heat of the burner arrayand food drippage is contained away from and beneath the level of theburner array. Additionally, the oven is easily cleaned after completionof a cooking operation.

The oven also is well-adapted to efficiently practice the method of theinvention involving a novel way of cooking shish kebobs, wherein apredetermined array of combined ingredients to be cooked are arrangedand cooked selectively in a manner which either comingless juicedrippage and spices between adjacent flanking pieces and non-adjacentpieces suspended there beneath, thereby providing for flavoring betweeneach, or separates selected items from comingling of juices, whereastraditional horizontal shish kebob cooking only provides for cominglingof juices between direct adjacent flanking pieces of food products.

In view of the foregoing description and drawings, as well as theobjects and advantages as set forth hereinabove, it is believed that theprinciples of the present invention now will be well understood and thatthe contribution to the art set forth herein will be better appreciated.There are, of course, additional equivalent constructions that do notdepart from the spirit and scope of the present invention, such as, forexample, incorporation of a mechanical counter for monitoring ofdone-ness of food products carried on each carrier. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions, in order to prevent appropriation of the presentinvention by those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cooking oven for cooking food productscomprising in combination:(a) oven cabinet means defining a singleinteriorly open cooking oven chamber therein; (b) heating element arraymeans arranged solely in a single row centrally of said oven chamber andcomprising a plurality of heat radiators having their longitudinal axesoriented in the plane of said row and operable to each radiate heatenergy therefrom generally radially of their longitudinal axes in ahorizontal plane at least from opposite lateral surfaces thereof tothereby radiate heat energy from both of the opposites sides of the rowof said radiators generally throughout the interior of said ovenchamber; (c) overhead conveyor means constructed and arranged relativeto said cabinet means for transporting food to be cooked in said ovenchamber while hanging suspended from said conveyor means and travelingin a horizontal travel path in said horizontal radiant heat energy planeextending along each side and around the opposite ends of said row ofheat radiators so as to thereby encircle said entire row of said heatingelement array means; and (d) food skewers individually removablyattached and hanging vertically from said conveyor means at spacedintervals along the travel path, said skewers being constantly directlyexposed to the radiant heat energy radiated in said horizontal planefrom said heating element array means during travel thereof in said pathin a complete cycle around both sides and the ends of said single row ofheat radiators.
 2. A cooking oven for cooking food products comprisingin combination:(a) oven cabinet means defining a single open cookingoven chamber therein; (b) heating element array means arranged in a rowcentrally of said oven chamber; (c) overhead conveyor means constructedand arranged relative to said cabinet means for transporting food to becooked in said oven chamber while hanging suspended from said conveyormeans and traveling in a horizontal plane travel path extending alongthe sides and around the opposite ends of said row and therebyencircling the entire array of such heating element array means; and (d)food skewers removably attached and hanging vertically from saidconveyor means, said skewers being constantly directly exposed to saidheating element array means throughout travel thereof in said path in acomplete cycle around said array, and wherein at least one of saidskewers carries a retention clip thereon in distal association with saidconveyor means and vertically disposed beneath food products skewered onsaid one skewer for vertical retention of such skewered food productsthereon while cooking, said retention clip comprising a strip of springmetal having spaced apertures for receiving said one skewer therethroughwhen flexed into a bowed and stressed condition of said strip, said oneskewer restraining said clip from returning to a free-state conditionthereof so that said clip frictionally grips said one skewer toyieldably restrain sliding movement of said clip along said one skewer.3. An oven according to claim 1, wherein the oven further comprises aplurality of internested drip pans disposed within said oven chambersubstantially vertically beneath the conveyor means travel paththereabove and constructed and arranged to cooperate in collecting juicedrippage from said skewers carrying food products thereon, such as meatsor the like.
 4. An oven according to claim 1, wherein said oven cabinetmeans further comprises a conveyor chamber superposed on an oven chamberand containing said overhead conveyor means.
 5. An oven according toclaim 1, wherein said heating element array means comprises analternating array of infra-red burners and reflectors arranged uprightin said row in the oven chamber.
 6. An oven according to claim 5,wherein each of said infra-red burners is a radiant infra-red gas burnerincluding means for providing a natural gas/air mixture for combustiontherein.
 7. An oven according to claim 1, wherein said conveyor meanscomprises a conveyor track, conveyor chain means movable therealongabout a defined closed loop run, a plurality of carriers spaced apartalong and connected to said chain means in said closed loop run, meansfor driving said conveyor means for moving said carriers at spacedintervals therealong and means for removably fastening said skewersindividually to said conveyor carriers for transport within said ovenchamber
 8. An oven according to claim 7, wherein said oven cabinet meansfurther comprises a conveyor chamber superposed on said oven chamber andcontaining said conveyor means, said conveyor means including aplurality of rods individually dependently connected to said carriersand movable with the associated carriers for removably suspending saidskewers individually therefrom along the food cooking travel path, saidcabinet means having a slot communicating between said conveyor chamberand said oven chamber to provide for travel of each said rodinterconnecting an associated skewer and an associated one of saidcarriers as said associated carrier encircles said conveyor path in saidconveyor chamber and said skewer encircles said corresponding horizontaloven travel path in said oven chamber, and gasket seal means superposedover said slot to provide such communication between said rod and saidslot while sealingly retaining heat within said oven chamber andenhancing cooking of food products carried therein, and furtherinhibiting transfer of contaminants from said conveyor chamber to saidoven chamber.
 9. An oven according to claim 7, wherein at least one ofsaid skewers carries a stripper disk shield proximal to an upper end ofsaid one skewer and forcibly slidable for movement longitudinallythereof for push-off removal of food products thereon, said shield beingconstructed and arranged to also be operable during travel of foodproducts on said skewer to shield them from contaminants fallingdownwardly from above said shield.
 10. An oven according to claim 9,wherein at least one of said skewers carries a retention clip thereon indistal association with said conveyor means and vertically removablydisposed on said one skewer beneath food products skewed on said oneskewer for vertical retention of such skewered food products thereonwhile cooking.
 11. An oven according to claim 10, wherein said retentionclip comprises a strip of spring metal having spaced appertures forreceiving said skewer therethrough when flexed into a bowed and stressedcondition of said strip, said skewer restraining said clip fromreturning to a free-state condition thereof so that said clipfrictionally grips said skewer to yieldably restrain sliding movement ofsaid clip along said skewer.
 12. An oven according to claim 11 or 2,wherein said strip of spring metal includes a pair of finger-grippingends carried by said strip, such ends being generally displaced from theplane of said strip when in an unstressed condition to facilitateflexing and bowing of same.
 13. An oven according to claim 1, whereinsaid oven cabinet means includes at least one loading station door meansand at least one unloading station door means, each of said door meansbeing transparent and communicating with said oven chamber and operableto provide access thereto for insertion and removal of skewers therein,and being disposed in opposed relationship flanking opposite sides ofthe oven food cooking travel path.
 14. An oven according to claim 13,wherein said door means communicating with said oven chamber eachcomprise at least a pair of transparent glass access doors slidable insaid oven cabinet means and carried by same for insertion and removal ofskewers therein.
 15. An oven according to claim 1, wherein said conveyormeans comprises a tubular conveyor track with a slot on the bottom andconveyor chain means having chain links and laterally spaced pairs ofwheels connected in spaced apart relationship by said chain links, eachsaid pair of wheels being carried on an axle and laterally spaced tostraddle said slot, said pairs of said wheels being disposed along andcarrying said conveyor chain means inside said tubular conveyor track soas to straddle said slot, and wherein certain of said pairs of saidwheels carry a hanger link with a conveyor hanger pendant extending downthrough said slot, and carrier means individually attached to saidconveyor link hanger and removably coupled with an associated one ofsaid skewers.
 16. An oven according to claim 15, wherein said tubularconveyor track further comprises a U-shaped tube at one end telescopedinto ends of a pair of straight and generally parallel runs of saidconveyor track, and spring means biasing said U-shaped tube in adirection tending to elongate said conveyor track to thereby tensionsaid conveyor chain means.
 17. An oven according to claim 16, whereinsaid tubular conveyor track further comprises thread means for adjustingthe tension imparted by said spring means to thereby adjustably tensionsaid conveyor chain means.
 18. An oven according to claim 12, whereinsaid oven cabinet means includes at least one cabinet access dooraffixable to and removable for access to said cooking oven chamber at alocation spaced between said loading and unloading station door means,thereby facilitating access therein for cleaning and maintenance.
 19. Acooking oven for cooking food products comprising in combination:(a)oven cabinet means defining a single open cooking oven chamber therein;(b) heating element array means arranged in a row centrally of said ovenchamber; (c) overhead conveyor means constructed and arranged relativeto said cabinet means for transporting food to be cooked in said ovenchamber while hanging suspended from said conveyor means and travelingin a horizontal plane travel path extending along the sides and aroundthe opposite ends of said row and thereby encircling the entire array ofsuch heating element array means, said conveyor means comprising aconveyor track, conveyor chain means movable therealong about a definedclosed loop run, means for driving said conveyor means at spacedintervals therealong and means for fastening said skewers to saidconveyor for transport within said oven chamber; and (d) food skewersremovably attached and hanging vertically from said conveyor means, saidskewers being constantly directly exposed to said heating element arraymeans throughout travel thereof in said path in a complete cycle aroundsaid array, and wherein said oven cabinet means further comprises aconveyor chamber superposed on said oven chamber and containing saidconveyor means, said conveyor means comprising a plurality of carriersspaced apart along the food cooking travel path and each having a rodvertically dependent therefrom and movable with the associated carrieralong and above the food cooking travel path, a plurality of skewersindividually removably attached to said carrier rods, said cabinet meanshaving a slot communicating between said conveyor chamber and said ovenchamber to provide for travel of each said rod interconnecting anassociated one of said skewers and an associated one of said carriers assaid associated carrier encircles said conveyor path in said conveyorchamber and said skewer encircles said corresponding horizontal oventravel path in said oven chamber, and flexible gasket seal meansyieldably superposed over said slot and operable to yield to passage ofeach rod slidably therealong to provide such communication between saidrod and said slot while sealingly retaining heat within said ovenchamber and enhancing cooking of food products carried therein, andfurther inhibiting transfer of contaminants from said conveyor chamberto said oven chamber.
 20. A cooking oven for cooking food productscomprising in combination:(a) oven cabinet means defining a single opencooking oven chamber therein; (b) heating element array means arrangedin a row centrally of said oven chamber; (c) overhead conveyor meansconstructed and arranged relative to said cabinet means for transportingfood to be cooked in said oven chamber while hanging suspended from saidconveyor means and traveling in a horizontal plane travel path extendingalong the sides and around the opposite ends of said row and therebyencircling the entire array of such heating element array means; and (d)food skewers removably attached and hanging vertically from saidconveyor means, said skewers being constantly directly exposed to saidheating element array means throughout travel thereof in said path in acomplete cycle around said array, said conveyor means further comprisinga tubular track with a slot on the bottom and having spaced pairs ofwheels, and conveyor chain means having chain links interconnecting saidpairs of wheels inside said tubular conveyor track, each said pair ofwheels being carried on an axle and laterally spaced to straddle saidslot, said pairs of said wheels being disposed along and carried byassociated chain links of said chain means, and wherein certain of saidpairs of wheels carry a hanger link with a conveyor hanger dependenttherefrom extending down through said slot, and carrier meansindividually attached to said conveyor link hangers and removablycoupled with an associated one of said skewers, and wherein said tubularconveyor track further comprises a U-shaped tube at one end telescopedinto ends of a pair of straight and generally parallel runs of saidconveyor track and spring means biasing said U-shaped tube in adirection tending to elongate said conveyor track to thereby tensionsaid conveyor chain means.
 21. An oven according to claim 1 furtherincluding means operable for detecting cooking time of food productsloaded on said skewers as a function of oven travel time of each saidfood product loaded skewer in said food cooking travel path and meansfor displaying such cooking time of food products on associated skewersto facilitate retrieval of food products having a desired done-ness. 22.An oven according to claim 21 wherein said means operable to detectcooking time of food products loaded on said skewers as a function ofoven travel time comprises a plurality of skewer carrier means carriedin equally spaced increments by said conveyor means above the foodcooking travel path and having said skewers individually removablyoperably coupled in dependent suspended relation thereto, and means forobserving the travel of said carrier means through a portion of theirtravel path adjacent an unloading station of said oven cabinet means,and wherein said means for displaying such cooking time comprisesidentifier means on each of said carrier means cooperable with saidobserving means to establish the individual identify of each saidcarrier means and its associated skewer visually to an oven attendant tofacilitate retrieval of food products having a desired done-ness.
 23. Anoven according to claim 22 wherein said carrier identifier meanscomprises coded visible indicia means on each of said carrier meansindicative of its sequential position on said conveyor means andpositioned thereon for detection via said observing means as saidcarrier means individually travel sequentially therepast during cookingoperation of said oven.
 24. An oven according to claim 23 wherein saidcoded visible indicia means comprises a sequence of code markspositioned on said carrier means for optical detection display in atravel plane running past and in alignment with said observing means.25. An oven according to claim 24 wherein said coded visible indiciameans comprise a series of sequential numbers arranged in the sequenceof travel of said carrier means past said observing means for detectionduring travel therepast.
 26. An oven according to claim 25 wherein saidobserving means comprises a viewing window panel in said cabinet meanspositioned above said oven unloading station and through which saidvisible indicia are observable and identifiable by the oven unloadingattendant in accordance with the numbering sequence thereon.
 27. Theoven according to claim 23 wherein said series of sequential numberscomprise optically detectable bar coded markings carried on andindividually assigned sequentially to each said carrier means, and saiddetecting and observing means comprises bar code reading means operableto detect, identify and display the cooking time of food productsarriving on individual food loaded skewers at the unloading station. 28.An oven according to claims 26 or 27 wherein said cabinet means includesa plurality of abutment means positioned at equally spaced intervalsalong the travel path of said carrier means, and wherein each saidcarrier means includes bracket means non-rotatably carried below saidconveyor means and rotatable star wheel means cooperable with saidabutment means and operably coupled to an associated skewer suspended onsaid carrier means for rotatably indexing said associated skewer aboutits longitudinal axis as each said carrier means travels past one ofsaid abutment means to thereby rotate the food products carried on saidassociated skewer during their travel in the oven food cooking path, andwherein said coded visible indicia means is located on a surface of saidbracket means facing the exterior of said cabinet means and aligned withsaid observing means.